U.S. History

Free resources that align with your U.S. History curriculum

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CFR Education offers a range of free resources that can supplement your U.S. History curriculum. Browse the eras and topics below. Wondering about standards alignment? Search for your state standards at the bottom of this page.

Before 1890

What Are the Causes and Consequences of Industrialization? Reading	Learn about the Industrial Revolution and how technological innovations from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries continue to shape society today.
What Is the Enlightenment and How Did It Transform Politics? Reading	Explore how calls for liberty, equality, and individual rights caused revolutions around the world, from the American Revolution to the French and Haitian Revolutions.
Essential Events Before 1900 Timeline	From the Silk Road and Christopher Columbus to the Ottoman Empire and the Revolutionary War, explore this history timeline covering major moments in global history before the twentieth century.
Oregon Boundary Dispute in 1845 Mini Simulation	How should the United States respond to British naval buildup near the Oregon Country? Explore this historical simulation.
Sovereignty and Neutrality in 1807 Mini Simulation	Should the United States remain neutral during the war between France and England? Explore this simulation set in 1807.

1890-1945

Modern History: The Americas Reading	Although referred to as the “New World” by Europeans, the Americas have thousands of years of history.
The Zimmerman Telegram in 1917 Mini Simulation	Should the United States take action against Germany? Explore this historical simulation set in 1917.
Politics: The Americas Reading	After years of dictatorships that ruled nearly every Latin American country during the 1970s, the region experienced a wave of democratization beginning in 1979.
Why Did World War I Happen? Reading	In this free resource on World War I, explore the causes and effects of the Great War to understand how the conflict shaped world history.
Why Did World War II Happen? Reading	In this free resource on World War II, understand the causes of World War II and why these issues drove countries back to battle just two decades after World War I.
How Do Countries Decide Whether to Go to War? Video	Learn how balances and imbalances of power contributed to World Wars I and II in this historical video.
Essential Events Between 1900 and 1945 Timeline	Learn how two world wars and other major historical developments from the Spanish-American War to World War II reshaped global affairs in the first half of the twentieth century.
U.S. Foreign Policy: Europe Reading	In his 1796 farewell address, President George Washington cautioned the United States to steer clear of foreign entanglements.
Modern History: Europe Reading	For the past seventy-five-odd years, Europe has largely been at peace.
U.S. Foreign Policy: East Asia & The Pacific Reading	The United States, a Pacific power itself, has maintained an interest in Asia for more than a century.
Influenza and War in 1918 Mini Simulation	How should the United States address a deadly pandemic during World War I? Explore this historical simulation set in 1918.
Explosion of the USS Maine in 1898 Mini Simulation	How should the United States intervene against Spanish colonial rule in Cuba? Explore this historical simulation set in 1898.

1945-1980

How Did the United States Become a Global Power? Reading	Learn how domestic expansion and three wars—the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II—transformed the United States’ standing in the world.
U.S. Foreign Policy: South & Central Asia Reading	In 1792, George Washington opened the United States’ first consulate in South Asia, in Kolkata, India.
How Did Mass Production and Mass Consumption Take Off After World War II? Reading	Discover how consumer goods have become cheap and ubiquitous in the global era.
U.S. Foreign Policy: East Asia & The Pacific Reading	The United States, a Pacific power itself, has maintained an interest in Asia for more than a century.
The History of Terrorism and U.S. Counterterrorism Since 1945 Timeline	From the creation of the CIA to the “War on Terror,” learn about the evolution of U.S. counterterrorism policies in this terrorism timeline.
How Did Decolonization Reshape the World? Reading	From India and the Palestinian Territories to Vietnam and Sudan, learn how former colonies sought independence—and how the shadow of colonialism still affects many regions today.
Two Koreas, Two Development Policies Reading	How did North Korea and South Korea turn out so differently? Learn about the history of Korea after World War II and how economic policies shaped the region.
What Is Nuclear Proliferation? Video	In this video on nuclear proliferation, learn why countries develop nuclear weapons—and what is being done to prevent the spread of these weapons and the possibility of nuclear war.
How Did the Cold War Stay Cold? Video	Learn how the world’s superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR), avoided nuclear war.
Cuban Immigration in 1980 Mini Simulation	How should the United States respond to the massive influx of Cuban migrants? Explore this historical simulation set in 1980.
The Nuclear World Reading	Where are the world’s nuclear weapons today and whom do they protect? Explore maps, charts, and graphs to learn about current and future nuclear weapons states.
Essential Events Since 1945 Timeline	From the Cold War and decolonization to globalization, learn how recent historical developments shaped today’s world.
Economic Statecraft: Foreign Assistance Mini Simulation	How should the United States employ foreign aid to help a country in crisis? Explore this hypothetical simulation.
The History of Nuclear Proliferation Timeline	What are the most significant attempts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, and have they succeeded? Explore this timeline, from the first atomic bomb to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
What Is Soft Power? Reading	From Cold War propaganda to current day pop culture, learn how countries use soft power to influence others without coercion in this free resource.
Opposing Communism in 1947 Mini Simulation	How should the United States support Greece in its fight against communist rebels? Explore this simulation set in 1947.
The Marshall Plan Video	Understand how the Marshall Plan, one of the first large foreign aid programs, helped Europe rebuild after World War II, but also served the foreign policy interests of the United States.
What Is Intelligence? Reading	From Cold War double agents to Chinese spy balloons, explore how lying and spying inform policymaking in this resource on intelligence.
Strategic Ambiguity Toward Taiwan Mini Simulation	Should the United States maintain its longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity toward Taiwan? Explore this simulation.
Modern History: The Americas Reading	Although referred to as the “New World” by Europeans, the Americas have thousands of years of history.
What Is Deterrence? Reading	In this free resource, explore examples of deterrence from the Cold War to present day to learn how countries dissuade bad behavior with the threat of significant punishment.
Korean War in 1950 (NSC) Simulation
Politics: The Americas Reading	After years of dictatorships that ruled nearly every Latin American country during the 1970s, the region experienced a wave of democratization beginning in 1979.
U.S. Foreign Policy: Europe Reading	In his 1796 farewell address, President George Washington cautioned the United States to steer clear of foreign entanglements.
Korean War in 1950 (UNSC) Simulation
What Is the Liberal World Order? Video	Explore the organizations and agreements that have promoted global peace and prosperity since the end of World War II, as well as the challenges that the liberal world order now faces in this video.
Modern History: Europe Reading	For the past seventy-five-odd years, Europe has largely been at peace.
What Is the UN Security Council? Reading	In this free resource, learn more about the United Nations’ most powerful body working to maintain international peace and security. Explore the security council’s failures and successes, and why the UN Security Council’s veto power is so controversial.
U.S. Foreign Policy: Middle East and North Africa Reading	Since World War II, three main interests—ensuring the free flow of oil from the Gulf, guaranteeing the survival and security of Israel, and limiting the influence of the former Soviet Union—have driven U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East.

1980-present

It Takes a Village to Make Your Medicine Reading	Follow the global supply chain across borders and into your pill bottle.
Understanding Currencies and Exchange Rates Reading	Supply and demand influence how much a currency is worth. Learn how exchange rates affect producers and consumers.
U.S. Foreign Policy: Europe Reading	In his 1796 farewell address, President George Washington cautioned the United States to steer clear of foreign entanglements.
Climate Change and the Coffee Industry Video	In this educational video, learn how climate change's effects on agriculture can have serious economic consequences for the world.
Social Media: Revolutionizing Communication Reading	Social media has connected people at lightning speeds and upended long-held monopolies on information. But like past innovations, it has also created major societal challenges.
The Inflation Reduction Act Reading	What is the IRA? In this free resource, learn what the United States' largest-ever climate change legislation does.
Terrorism and the Media Video	How do terrorists use the media? From Osama bin Laden to the Islamic State, learn how terrorists use internet and media coverage to shape their goals.
The Lasting Effects of Emigration Video	When migrants seek work abroad, what does their home country gain and lose? Explore one example of a country shaped by emigration, the Philippines.
What Is Nation-Building? Video	In this free resource on nation-building, learn why developing political, economic, security, and social institutions across borders is a complex business.
Tools of Nonproliferation Video	How do world leaders try to prevent nuclear war? From diplomacy to military force, learn what policy options are most effective in this video.
The Global Consequences of Financial Contagion Reading	What caused the Great Recession of 2008? Learn why a financial crisis can spread around the world with our modern globalized economy.
Modern History: Europe Reading	For the past seventy-five-odd years, Europe has largely been at peace.
Why Scientists Are Watching Greenland Reading	In this free climate change resource, learn why melting ice in Greenland is causing global sea level rise.
Climate Change Inequality Reading	In this free resource, explore how climate change disproportionately affects certain communities and could drastically increase global inequality.
A Global Semiconductor Shortage Reading	Expensive cars? Phone order delays? Learn how today’s globalized supply chain can affect our daily lives by exploring the global semiconductor shortage.
How a Single Phrase Defined the War on Terror Reading	What is the 2001 AUMF and what does it have to do with 9/11? From the invasion of Afghanistan, to the Iraq War, and more, learn how the United States justified U.S. counterterrorism policy for over two decades.
Internally Displaced Persons: Migrants Who Do Not Cross a National Border Reading	Who are IDPs and how are they different from refugees? Understand what happens to people who are forced from their homes but remain inside their own country through country case studies.
What Is Economic Statecraft? Reading	Learn why China lends billions of dollars abroad each year through its Belt and Road Initiative and the implications of that free resource for recipient countries.
What Is Globalization? Video	Explore examples of globalization to understand the benefits and challenges of our increasingly interconnected world in this video.
The Global Role of the U.S. Dollar Video	Why is the U.S. dollar the world's most popular currency and how does it help the U.S. economy? Watch this video on the history of U.S. currency.
U.S. Foreign Policy: Middle East and North Africa Reading	Since World War II, three main interests—ensuring the free flow of oil from the Gulf, guaranteeing the survival and security of Israel, and limiting the influence of the former Soviet Union—have driven U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East.
The Paris Agreement Reading	What is the Paris Agreement? In this free resource, learn what actions countries are taking to address the global threat of climate change.
What Is Water Scarcity? Reading	Is there a global water crisis? In this free resource, learn how climate change is causing water scarcity to worsen worldwide.
Cuban Immigration in 1980 Mini Simulation	How should the United States respond to the massive influx of Cuban migrants? Explore this historical simulation set in 1980.
The History of Terrorism and U.S. Counterterrorism Since 1945 Timeline	From the creation of the CIA to the “War on Terror,” learn about the evolution of U.S. counterterrorism policies in this terrorism timeline.
The Origins of the Internet Timeline	The internet evolved from a niche government tool to a nearly universal platform for communications and entertainment.
What Is Arms Control? Reading	In this free resource on arms control agreements, learn how countries try to regulate the world’s most powerful weapons through foreign policy.
Climate Change Adaptations Reading	Explore how eleven countries are adapting to the effects of climate change in this free resource.
The Suez Canal Crisis Video	Explore a historical case study on the Suez Canal to understand how monetary policy can also be used as a tool of foreign policy.
U.S. Foreign Policy: South & Central Asia Reading	In 1792, George Washington opened the United States’ first consulate in South Asia, in Kolkata, India.
What the World’s Terrorist Groups Have in Common Reading	From the KKK to al-Qaeda, learn how strong ideology motivates terrorist groups to commit violence, no matter their goals.
Radicalization and Right-Wing Extremism Reading	Learn how QAnon, white supremacists, and Silicon Valley have contributed to an evolving domestic terror threat.
Russia and NATO in the Baltics in 2016 (NSC) Simulation
Who Counts As a Terrorist? Reading	What are the major types of terrorism? From foreign groups to domestic threats, learn how the U.S. government defines terrorism and its legal consequences.
The Internet by the Numbers Reading	In a world where internet access is increasing, digital divides remain.
What Is Peacekeeping? Reading	In this free resource on the successes and failures of peacekeeping, learn about the UN missions tasked with transitioning countries out of war.
Two Hundred Years of Global Communications Timeline	From the printing press to Instagram, technological advances shape how people communicate.
What Is a Central Bank and What Does It Do for You? Reading	What is the Federal Reserve? Learn how central banks conduct monetary policy by influencing the rate of inflation, money supply, and interest rates.
U.S. Foreign Policy: East Asia & The Pacific Reading	The United States, a Pacific power itself, has maintained an interest in Asia for more than a century.
The Greenhouse Effect Reading	How do greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming? Learn why the world is getting warmer in this free climate change resource.
What Is Cryptocurrency? Reading	Explore digital currency's uses and abuses in society.
Economic Statecraft: Foreign Assistance Mini Simulation	How should the United States employ foreign aid to help a country in crisis? Explore this hypothetical simulation.
The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Reading	What is the NPT and how has the treaty influenced the spread of nuclear weapons?
Should the Internet Respect National Borders? Video	The United States supports internet freedom. China, a proponent of cyber sovereignty, disagrees.
What Is Armed Force? Reading	In this free resource on military action, learn how countries use violence, or armed force, to influence foreign policy.
Big in China: The Global Market for Hollywood Movies Reading	Hollywood’s relationship with the Chinese market—and its gatekeepers, Chinese government censors—is changing the way movies are made and promoted.
The Terrorist Money Trail Reading	How do terrorists get funding? Learn about the challenges of targeting the finances of terrorist groups in this free resource on terrorism.
Why Does U.S. Foreign Policy Matter? Video	In this educational video on U.S. foreign policy, learn how the United States has shaped the world with its military and economic might.
Sources of Energy: A Comparison Reading	Learn how turning toward cleaner energy sources means factoring in economic and energy needs alongside environmental ones.
How Do Governments Combat Climate Change? Reading	In this free resource, explore seven ways countries are responding to a changing environment, from cap and trade policies to clean energy standards.
Preparing for and Managing the Next Pandemic Mini Simulation	What should the United States do to secure global health preparedness before the next pandemic? Explore this simulation.
What Is Nuclear Proliferation? Video	In this video on nuclear proliferation, learn why countries develop nuclear weapons—and what is being done to prevent the spread of these weapons and the possibility of nuclear war.
How Companies and Governments Do (and Don’t) Protect Your Data Reading	The spread of the internet has far outpaced domestic and international privacy laws, making global coordination difficult and leaving personal data vulnerable.
What Is Trade Policy? Reading	In this free resource on trade policy, explore how countries leverage their economic power to advance their foreign policy interests.
What Is Climate Change? Video	In this educational video, learn why the climate is changing, how it affects us, and what we can do about it.
Modern History: The Americas Reading	Although referred to as the “New World” by Europeans, the Americas have thousands of years of history.
How Do Treaties Get Made? Video	In this U.S. foreign policy video, understand the challenges of negotiating treaties and dive into two international climate agreements.
Tools of Counterterrorism Video	What is counterterrorism? Learn how governments try to prevent terrorist attacks in this video on terrorism.
Idealism Versus Realism Reading	What is idealism? What is realism? In this free resource, explore two schools of thought on a country’s foreign policy priorities.
Response to 9/11 Mini Simulation	Should the United States strike al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in response to 9/11? Explore this historical simulation set in 2001.
South Africa: Why Countries Acquire and Abandon Nuclear Bombs Reading	Why did South Africa give up its nuclear weapons? In this historical case study, learn about the only country in the world to have developed and then dismantled its nuclear program.
How Does Cyberspace Work? Reading	Learn about the many places information is transferred across the internet—including under the ocean, up in space, and in your pocket.
What Is Diplomacy? Reading	In this free resource on diplomacy, understand how countries advocate for their national interests through foreign policy.
Trains, Planes, and Shipping Containers Reading	Three innovations shaped how people and goods move around the world today.
Politics: The Americas Reading	After years of dictatorships that ruled nearly every Latin American country during the 1970s, the region experienced a wave of democratization beginning in 1979.
What Is the National Security Council? Reading	Learn how the president’s advisors protect U.S. national security and help with foreign policy decision-making and coordination across the executive branch.
Migration Today Reading	Understand where migrants come from, where they go, and why migration is increasing through maps, charts, and data.
Unilateralism Versus Multilateralism Reading	What is unilateralism? What is multilateralism? In this free resource on foreign policy, explore why leaders address some challenges independently and others as part of a team.
Strategic Ambiguity Toward Taiwan Mini Simulation	Should the United States maintain its longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity toward Taiwan? Explore this simulation.
How Do Countries Create Nuclear Weapons? Reading	What is nuclear power and how can the same process that generates nuclear energy create a nuclear bomb?
What are Cyberspace and Cybersecurity? Video	Explore the origins of the internet and the challenges that will define its future.
How Did the United States Approach the Tiananmen Square Crackdown? Video	In this educational video, learn how idealism and realism shaped U.S. foreign policy following the Chinese government’s massacre at Tiananmen Square in 1989.
Six Essential International Organizations You Need to Know Reading	Learn about the most prominent international organizations tackling the world’s biggest issues in this free resource.
NATO: The World’s Largest Alliance Timeline	What is NATO? Trace NATO’s history and learn how the organization’s mission has evolved over seventy-five years, from the end of World War II to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
How Do Forces Outside Government Influence Policymaking? Reading	Learn how journalism, social media, public opinion, and lobbies are all a part of American democracy and influence U.S. foreign policy.
What Is Migration? Video	Why do people migrate? Understand why migration means different things for individuals, countries, and economies in a globalized world.
How Do Governments Approach Foreign Policy? Video	In this educational video, explore three fundamental questions that shape a country’s relationship with the world through foreign policy.
NATO Enlargement in 1994 (NSC) Simulation
The Nuclear World Reading	Where are the world’s nuclear weapons today and whom do they protect? Explore maps, charts, and graphs to learn about current and future nuclear weapons states.
The Growing Threat of Cyberattacks Video	The Stuxnet worm is only the beginning.
What Tools Do Foreign Policy-Makers Have at Their Disposal? Video	In this foreign policy video, learn how leaders further their countries’ interests with political, economic, and military tools such as diplomacy, trade, and intelligence.
Who Is Responsible for Climate Change? Video	Why do developed and developing countries disagree about who is responsible for climate change? Explore the history of industrialization and its impacts on climate in this video.
Human Trafficking in the Global Era Reading	Understand the various forms of human trafficking, including forced labor, forced marriage, and forced organ removal.
What Is the Relationship Between Domestic and Foreign Policy? Reading	Explore maps and charts that illustrate how climate change, terrorism, COVID-19, and internet freedom require both international and domestic solutions in an increasingly interconnected world.
Global Terrorism Trends Reading	Explore terrorism trends through five data charts that help show the threat of terrorism around the world and how it has changed over time.
For Migrants, Labels Matter Reading	What is the difference between immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers? Explore how contested definitions of migrants have a profound effect on the rights and protections of people leaving their homes.
What Are Economic Sanctions? Reading	In this free resource on sanctions, learn how countries use punitive economic measures to advance their foreign policy priorities.
Drones in Pakistan in 2011 (NSC) Simulation
How Globalization Affects What’s for Brunch Video	Globalization’s effects can appear where you least expect them—including on your plate.
What Is Monetary Policy? Video	From inflation to interest rates, understand the basics of monetary policy, currencies, and the flow of money in the global economy with this introductory video.
How Do Countries Select Their Foreign Policy Tools? Video	In this educational video on foreign policy, explore how U.S. relations with Japan have changed over the past century, from Pearl Harbor to a peaceful alliance.
Who Releases the Most Greenhouse Gases? Reading	Learn how the world measures greenhouse gas emissions and how different approaches imply different levels of responsibility.
Eleven Global Issues That Will Shape the Future Reading	Understand the challenges that will define our lifetime.
How Can AI Combat Climate Change? Reading	In this free climate change resource, learn how AI is helping countries reduce carbon emissions, but some innovations could ultimately contribute to a warming planet.
What Is Terrorism? Video	Learn how terrorists have sought to achieve their goals all over the world with this video on terrorism.
History of U.S. Immigration Policy Video	Explore how the United States has responded to migrants throughout history—from the Chinese Exclusion Act to DACA—and how immigration policy influences the society, economy, and politics of a country.
What Is Soft Power? Reading	From Cold War propaganda to current day pop culture, learn how countries use soft power to influence others without coercion in this free resource.
Negotiating Ukrainian Security in 1993 Mini Simulation	How should the United States manage dismantling Ukraine's nuclear arsenal while safeguarding against renewed conflict in Europe? Explore this historical simulation set in 1993.